Subconjunctival hemorrhage is a harmless condition where blood is trapped between the conjunctiva and the sclera of the eye, causing the whites of the eye to turn bright red. It usually clears up on its own within two weeks and is caused by eye trauma, heavy lifting, stress, physical exertion, intense vomiting, and some surgeries. No treatment is necessary, but if it recurs often, it could indicate an underlying medical condition.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage is a hemorrhage under the conjunctiva of the eye, the delicate membrane that covers the sclera, or white of the eye. When this condition develops, the whites of the eye turn bright red because blood is trapped between the conjunctiva and the sclera. This condition may sound quite alarming, but it is usually perfectly harmless and will clear up on its own within two weeks.
The symptoms of are fairly obvious, but because the condition doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort, the condition might be noticed by a friend or colleague before the patient realizes it. Typically a subconjunctival hemorrhage takes the form of a bright red spot in the white of the eye that can spread to cover much more of the white, depending on the severity of the hemorrhage. For the first few days, the bleeding can feel extremely bad. However, like a bruise, it will begin to fade, turning bluish, green, and yellowish before disappearing altogether.
There are a number of causes for subconjunctival hemorrhages. Eye trauma is a leading cause, along with heavy lifting, stress, physical exertion, intense vomiting, and some surgeries. Usually, the condition is an isolated problem, but it can be a symptom of an underlying problem. For this reason, some people like to go to the doctor to confirm that they indeed have subconjunctival hemorrhage. A doctor should always be consulted if bleeding is accompanied by impaired vision, eye pain, nausea, or headache.
The best treatment is no treatment. The bleeding has usually stopped by the time it is identified and eventually the blood will come out of the eyeball on its own. It’s a good idea to avoid touching the area around the eye or putting pressure on the eye during the healing stages. If the eye becomes itchy, as it sometimes does, soothing eye drops can be used to relieve the itching. Dark glasses can be worn by patients tired of receiving comments about their red eyes.
A subconjunctival hemorrhage every now and then is nothing to worry about, but if the condition recurs often, it could indicate that an underlying medical condition needs to be addressed. People who experience subconjunctival bleeding frequently may wish to speak to a doctor. Sometimes the condition can be addressed with dietary changes, stopping certain medications or supplements, or taking a break from strenuous exercise.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
